When Belle woke up that morning, she wondered what she would wear today. She opened the curtains to see the bright warm sun pouring into the room.
"Today will be a wonderful day to go outside." Belle said, "Maybe Adam will be able to show me the bigger gardens or maybe we could read together in the library!" She walked over to her dresser and pulled out three dresses; a bright lavender with middle-length sleeves, a dark forest green dress with matching wrist-length gloves and her regular blue peasant dress.
"Which one? Which one?" she said, Belle kept looking at her dresses until her eyes were dry. She shook her head and decided to wear...the forest green dress with matching wrist-length gloves. She quickly put on the dress, put her other dresses away and left the bedroom.
As Belle headed down the dining room for breakfast, she almost ran into her father.
"Hello Belle." Maurice said, smiling at his daughter.
"Hello Papa." Belle said, "You look like you've been going in circles."
"I think I have been." Maurice said, "I've been trying to find my way to breakfast."
"Did you ask anyone to help you?" she asked, Maurice was starting to turn a little pink. Belle smiled, she knew that her father didn't like to ask for help. "Follow me, we need to get Tintement unless she's already there, but I doubt that."
"So do I," Maurice said, following his daughter, "considering how she acts today."
"We'll just head to the dining hall." Belle said heading to the dining room, "If she's not there, I'll go get her. I just hope that she won't be too grumpy with me about the possibility of waking her up." If there's anything about Belle's cousin, Tintement, that Belle knows much too well...was that she was not a morning person. Belle was really hoping that Tintement was awake so that Belle didn't have to get her up.
It didn't take long to find the dining hall since Belle had been at the castle the longest and knows where everything is...almost. One of the servants opened the door to the dining hall for Belle and Maurice.
"Thank you." Belle said, the servant just bowed to her. Belle could help but blush as she and her father walked in, but when she walked in the dining hall, she was really surprised to see Tintement there...but not Adam.
"Good morning, Tintement." Maurice said as he walked to his seat.
"Morning, Uncle Maurice." Tintement said, Belle could tell in her voice that she was still trying to wake up, but Belle was more surprised that Adam wasn't in the room.
"Tintement, when did you get here?" Belle asked, Tintement yawned before answering.
"I've been here for fifteen minutes, just waiting on you." Tintement answered.
"Adam...never came down?" Belle asked.
"I haven't seen him." Tintement said, "Maybe he's getting ready?"
"I doubt that." Belle said, "He's usually here before me, I wonder if there's something wrong?"
"Quit being a worry wart." Tintement said, "He'll come down, let's eat. I don't think he'll want you to be on an empty stomach all day." Belle knew that Tintement was getting a little upset because of waiting to eat breakfast. The last thing Belle wanted to face is Tintement's temper when she's on an empty stomach, but it didn't feel right about eating without him.
"Tintement is right, Belle." Maurice said, "He'll come down. Let's get some food in our tummies!" All three of them sat at the table and decided to have breakfast...except for Belle.
While her father and cousin ate, Belle was having a harder time eating. Belle didn't think she should eat when Adam wasn't with her at the table, she was starting to think that Adam might be sick with something. She decided to bring a plate of food up to the West Wing when her father and cousin were done eating. Belle came out of her thoughts when Tintement burped in her napkin.
"Excuse me." Tintement said wiping her face.
"You're excused." Maurice said, "You still haven't changed, my dear niece."
"At least I did it in the napkin!" Tintement said, "Unlike that father of mine whom I got it from."
"True," Maurice said, "you at least remembered your manners, unlike that brother of mine."
"Belle, are you going to eat that?" Tintement asked looking at Belle's plate. Belle looked at her plate, she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to eat.
"No," Belle said handing the plate to Tintement, "you can have it if you want."
"Thank you." Tintement said as she grabbed the plate from Belle. Maurice could see the look of worry on his daughter's face, he knew that she was in love with Adam, but he didn't know much in love she was. Seeing how Belle was acting at the table was enough proof about how much Belle loved and cared for Adam. When Tintement finished off the last bit off Belle's plate, Maurice spoke.
"Well, that was delicious."
"I agree with you, Uncle Maurice." Tintement said, placing her hands on her full stomach.
"Well, I think I'll go to my workshop and fix my invention." Maurice said, getting up from the table.
"Can I at least watch, Uncle Maurice?" Tintement asked, also getting up from the table. "I'm tired of doing nothing in my room."
"As long as you not move your arm so much, like Mrs. Potts said." he said.
"All right." Tintement groaned as she rolled her eyes. She followed Maurice towards the workroom.
Belle was alone in the dining hall, she got up and went over to Adam's seat. She grabbed the empty plate and filled it up with eggs, bacon, sausage and french toast. Belle took the silverware and rolled it up in a napkin. After that, she grabbed the plate and silverware and headed out the door.
Belle was very careful not to drop the plate or the silverware on the floor. Throughout the whole time she was carrying the plate, none of the servants stopped her or spoke to her. She had noticed that, but she had also noticed that the servants were somewhat shaken up, but since they didn't say a word about what Belle was doing or what she was up to, Belle thought that she shouldn't ask the servants what was wrong with them.
Belle had just turned around a corner when she saw Cogsworth running, she quickly moved out of the way before Cogsworth could run into her and create a big mess. Cogsworth missed hitting Belle, but he did noticed that she was carrying something.
"Mademoiselle, where are you going with that?" Cogsworth asked.
"I'm going to give it to Adam." Belle said, "He didn't join me for breakfast with my father and cousin, so I thought he might be sick and I decided to bring him some breakfast."
"Oh, well," Cogsworth lifted the letter he received early this morning, "I was heading to the dining hall to give this to the master, but since...you are going to his...room. Do you think you could...uh...?" Belle could see that Cogsworth was very concerned about giving the letter to Adam.
"Sure," Belle said gently grabbing the letter and putting it under the plate, "I'll take it to him." Cogsworth breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Belle." he said and then he left.
When Belle walked up the stairs to the West Wing, she started to feel something she thought she would never feel before. It was the same eerie feeling Belle felt when she came up to the West Wing for the first time. It was a very creepy feeling where it didn't want Belle to come any closer than she already was. She was getting goosebumps as she walked to the door.
As she got to the door, Belle saw a sign on the door knobs, saying 'Do Not Disturb' with big red letters.
'This must be serious.' she thought. Belle didn't know how she was going to knock on the door, considering how full her hands were with the plate of breakfast, silverware and the letter Cogsworth gave her. Belle didn't want to do this, but...she gently and carefully balanced the plate in her left hand, put the letter between her lips and kept the silverware in her right hand. While balancing the plate in her left hand, Belle knocked on the door, hoping that Adam would be at least a little nice.
Nothing happened, Belle leaned her head against the door, hoping to hear something. She heard moaning coming from the other side of the door, Belle started to worry that something might be very wrong.
"Adam, is something wrong?" Belle said, after taking the letter out of her mouth, hoping that he heard her.
"Belle...is that...you?" Belle heard Adam say and moan from the other side of the door. "I'm coming."
"Oh no, you don't!" whispered a female voice, Belle recognized that voice from anywhere, it was Lydia. "I'll go open the door." Belle was having second thoughts about going into Adam's room now knowing that his mother was visiting. She was about to turn around and leave until she heard the door open, Belle took a deep breath and turned around to see Lydia's head peeking out the door. "Hello Belle." Lydia said.
"Hello...Lydia." Belle said, "I was just...wondering if Adam is okay. I heard...moaning and thought he might be sick. I also...brought him some breakfast." Lydia could sense the worry from Belle, she wondered if she should let Belle in.
"Let her in!" Adam moaned, Lydia still couldn't say 'no' to her son, especially in this situation he was in.
"Come in, Belle," Lydia sighed, "but you need to be very careful!" Belle was very worried, what was wrong with Adam?
Belle slowly walked into Adam's room, nothing could express how cold and dark it was. In fact, it was much colder and darker than the first time she came into the West Wing. Belle couldn't see anything anymore when Lydia closed the door.
"I'll take the plate and silverware from you, Belle." Lydia said. Even though Belle couldn't see her, she felt Lydia taking the plate and silverware, but Belle still had the letter Cogsworth asked her to give to Adam. For the first time in a long time, Belle felt...afraid...afraid that something more was going on. "I'll let the two of you have some alone time." Lydia said, "Adam, don't let those curtains be open or light any candles. I'll be back in fifteen minutes." There was two popping noises, nothing else after Lydia spoke. Belle swallowed any nervousness and tried to speak.
"A-A-Adam, a-a-are you here?" Belle said, still seeing nothing but black darkness. Just then, she felt something go around her waist. Belle almost jumped, but she couldn't go anywhere.
"Belle, I'm here." was whispered into Belle's ear. Belle knew...it was Adam holding her.
"Adam," Belle said, resting her hands on Adam's arms, "I was, and still am, very worried about you." She tried turning around, but Adam wasn't letting her.
"Belle, I can't let you see me." Adam said.
"I already can't see," she said, "it's too dark for me to see anything. Why is it so dark?"
"First off," he said, "I can't let you see me because my eyes will be something you can see. As for what's going on, it's a long explanation."
"Let me know, Adam, I don't want to be so worried about something I don't know." Just then, something happened that Belle didn't expect Adam to do because she didn't think he would be brave enough to do. Adam...kissed her...on her neck! Belle giggled when she felt him kissing her neck. "Adam, that tickles!"
"I'll try to explain what's going on." Adam said, "I'll sit you down first, but...please promise me that...you won't get frightened of my eyes." Adam waited until he heard an answer from his dear love. As for Belle, she wondered what could've happened to Adam to make him think his eyes would scare her. In fact, the only time that she remembers being scared of Adam's eyes was when he caught her in the West Wing about to touch the rose. But...Belle didn't want Adam to think that she didn't want him around because of his appearance...again.
"I promise." Belle said, then she felt Adam releasing her waist. She felt his hands grab her right hand, she slowly turned around. When Belle saw Adam's eyes, she was...quite surprised. The reason why she was surprised? Adam's eyes...were glowing! They were actually glowing, Adam's eyes still looked the same, they were just glowing. Of course, Belle gasped when Adam's eyes were looking straight at her, but it was enough for Adam to turn away and cover his eyes. When Belle couldn't see his eyes anymore, she tried to reach out to him. "Adam, I'm sorry," Belle said, trying to find Adam in the darkness, "I was just surprised! I wasn't frightened, just surprised." When Belle didn't get a response, she thought she bothered Adam enough that...he wasn't going to come near her.
"What's in your hand?" Belle heard Adam ask, she forgotten about the letter that Cogsworth gave her.
"Oh..uh...Cogsworth asked me to give this to you." Belle said, staring at the letter in her hands. Belle then felt the letter gently pulling out of her hands, that's when she thought that Adam might be in front of her. As soon as Belle had that thought, she grabbed a hold of whatever was in front of her. Belle felt cloth...and human skin, she grabbed Adam.
"Belle...what are you doing?" he asked, Belle just held tighter.
"Proving to you that you just startled me." she said, "I know its going to take a long time for you to realize it, but...I will always be here to tell you that I don't care about what you looked like. Remember what I said? I didn't care if you remained as a beast, turned into a dragon, a bear or a flying pig, it was the heart within you that I loved and still love." Belle started feeling very warm and...that's because Adam was warming up from hearing what Belle said.
Every time Belle said that his appearance didn't matter to her, Adam can't help but feel so happy that he starts warming up, enough where even Belle could feel it whenever she was so close to him. He tried to raise his arms so he could hold her back, but since Belle was holding him so tight, he could only move his arms from the elbow down.
"Here Adam," Belle said, releasing him and bringing the letter up to him. "I can't read it to you since its too dark for me to read, so...you can give it a try." Belle felt Adam's fingers touching her own as he gently took the letter out of her hand. She watched Adam's (now glowing) eyes as he open the envelope and read the letter inside. Belle could see a bit of shock and worry in his eyes as he read more of the letter. "What does it say?" she asked.
"It's from my cousin...Sagittarius." Adam spoke up, "He says that nothing could express how happy he was when he received my letter...that I sent only last night."
"You sent him a letter?" Belle asked.
"I did," he answered, "let's just say somebody gave me some sense to give my cousin another chance. Anyway, Sagittarius also says that he plans to come out here in nine or ten days. He also said that he would've come out sooner, but he is in a situation that will take a few days to take care of."
"Adam...not to point it out, but...how are you and him supposed to take care of what you need to do when...you're stuck in your very dark room?"
"I hopefully I won't be in here for much longer than three to four days." Adam answered, he then explained to Belle what was going on with him. How he was transforming into a sorcerer and how much the light was badly affecting him. Belle tried not to look shocked, but hearing that this was happening to Adam, she didn't want him to be alone in in the dark...again. "Best guess that around the night of the third day or the morning of fourth day, I can be out in the light again." He added.
"Adam, do you want me to stay here with you?" Belle offered.
"I would like that, Belle," he said, "but with Sagittarius coming out here in the amount of time he gave us, I need your help to make sure everything here is under control, especially the servants. I don't want them running all over the place being flustered and...I also don't want to be disturbed too much."
"I don't blame you about that part." she said.
"Also...I need to brush up on the last few things I remember from my studies from long ago, if I know Sagittarius, he would want me to on top of everything."
"If you like, when I check on you, I could bring up a few books that you can try to read and could...help you." Belle offered, Adam could hear a small hint of disappointment and...sadness in her voice.
"I can hear it in your voice, my dear Belle." Adam said, "You sound sad."
"Knowing that you're going to be in here in the dark and that you can't come out," Belle sighed, "I don't know if...I can handle not having you for three days, let alone four. When...I left you to save my father," Belle sniffled a little, "even being a few hours apart from you was...heartbreaking for me." Adam didn't know that that horrible day had an affect on the love of his life as well.
Belle tried to clean up her face from all the tears, but more continued to fall as soon as she wiped the others off.
"Sorry, Adam." Belle said, still trying to wipe off her face, "I don't mean to start crying like this." Just then, she felt something grab her shoulders and pulled her forward. Belle felt soft cloth as she brought her hands up to the cloth in front of her, then she felt something going around her waist. She thought that Adam was holding her and her hands were on his chest.
"Believe me, Belle." Adam spoke up, "I don't blame you for feeling what you're feeling. That was...a miserable night for us, but...everything turned out all right. You were there for me when I needed you most, now...it's my turn to be there for you."
"But...how?" she asked.
"By making you the happiest bride I can make you." he answered, Belle didn't know what to think when she heard that. She held onto him tighter.
"Oh Adam," Belle sniffled, "you're...the first person, outside my family, that truly loved me. Nobody wanted to accept me for who I was and I'm not just referring all the villagers in that last village. Ever since I turned thirteen, no one wanted me around them. I've had boys follow me when I wasn't looking."
"Was...that one man you hate so much...one of them?" Adam asked.
"If you're talking about Gaston, no, at least, not at first." She answered, "It was...his older brother, A-A-Anton. When I turned fourteen, he would invade my privacy all the time, even when my father was with me. One night, when I was fifteen," Adam could hear that Belle was getting ready to break down, he could guess what happened. "if Tintement wasn't there, I-I-I..."
"Shh," Belle felt Adam kissing her forehead, "you don't have to say anything else. We don't need any horrible things happening anymore. I'm here for you, Belle, and I'm going to treat you the way you want to be treated. You taught me that lesson long ago; we may have had horrible pasts, but it's now time for us to make a happy future together."
"Adam...I don't know what I would do without you." Belle said, raising her hands up to his face. She saw his glowing eyes, but it didn't bother her. Belle grabbed his neck collar and tried to kiss him on the lips...and she did. Adam was a little worried that Belle was going to give him a kiss where he didn't have enough air for it, but this kiss was a healing kiss. They kissed in the dark for about fifteen seconds, but Adam could feel that Belle really needed it.
When they broke apart, Belle laid her hands on his chest and said;
"Thank you, Adam. Well, I better go down and tell the servants what's going to happen in the next few days."
"If they have any questions they need me to answer, tell them to ask you and...you can come up and I'll answer them." Adam said.
"Are you sure?" she asked, "I don't want to bother you, especially since you said you don't want to be bothered around this...time for you."
"As I'll probably keep saying for a while, " he said, "you'll never bother me, my dear Belle." Belle felt Adam grabbing her gloved hands, "I'll take you over to the door since...you can't see."
"I appreciate that." Belle said, following Adam as he continued to hold her hands. She then stopped, felt her hand brought up and onto a doorknob. "I'll come by later to bring those books over."
"Thank you, Belle." she heard Adam say. Belle then turned the knob, carefully slid out the door; letting little light in and closed the door.